Boron valence electrons

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Boron has 3 valence electrons.

Methods

We can write the valence electrons of boron using two different methods:

#1 Using periodic table
#2 Using electron configuration

Let’s break down each method in detail.

Using periodic table

Get the periodic table having the chemical elements marked on it as mentioned above.

Now mark the location of boron on the periodic table.

Next, mark the group number of boron on the periodic table.

The valence electrons of each main-group element can be determined by the column in which it is located.

(i.e., all group 1 elements have 1 valence electron, all group 2 elements have 2 valence electrons, skip the transition metals… then, all group 13 elements have 3 valence electrons, all group 14 elements have 4 valence electrons, and so on up to group 18 elements)

Since boron is in group 13, it has 3 valence electrons.

Using electron configuration

• First, write electron configuration of boron

The electron configuration of boron is [He] 2s² 2p¹.

• Second, find highest energy level in electron configuration

In the above electron configuration, the highest energy level (2) is marked with green color.

• Finally, count electrons of that energy level

The 2^nd energy level contains 2s and 2p subshells. There are 2 electrons in the 2s subshell and 1 electron in the 2p subshell. So boron has a total of 2 + 1 = 3 valence electrons.

Next: Carbon valence electrons

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Related

• Periodic table

More topics

• Boron
• Boron Bohr model
• Boron orbital diagram
• Boron protons neutrons electrons

External links

• https://homework.study.com/explanation/how-many-valence-electrons-does-boron-have.html
• https://www.sciencecoverage.com/2021/01/boron-valence-electrons.html
• https://valenceelectrons.com/valence-electrons-of-boron/